Ahead of Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address, green groups call for shift toward climate justice
Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 25, green activists called for “coherent plans” to address climate change as they press for “a genuine shift to renewable energy.”
Greenpeace and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice convened communities from across the country this week in a “People’s Energy Conference” to come up with demands for a shift to renewable energy and the dropping of “coal, fossil gas, and nuclear plans.”
“Recent events exposed the unreliability and detrimental costs of the country’s dependence on fossil fuels,” read a joint statement by the groups.
They said the rising oil prices, power crises in areas like Mindoro, and the Malampaya shutdown, among others, are results of the such dependence.
According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, climate impacts are worsening faster than expected.
The groups said this is exacerbated by the fossil fuel industry, and with vulnerable communities affected disproportionately.
“While the Marcos administration claims to prioritize a shift to [renewable energy], the government is also looking at developing nuclear and gas,” warned the environment activists, adding that these will be “more costly for consumers and pose a grave threat to Filipino communities and the planet.”
The communities and climate advocates are demanding the Marcos administration to:
- End fossil fuel for climate justice
- hasten RE to 100% instead of nuclear energy development
- Strengthen air quality standards to regulate and restrict fossil fuel expansion in PH
- Uphold the NICC findings
- hold fossil fuel companies and carbon majors accountable for their contribution to the climate crisis
- Protect environment and climate defenders – who have the best interest of our country’s environment in mind – from all forms of harassment and violence
- Ensure implementation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Management Bureau, Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy and other state actors mandate to protect the environment and address the climate crisis and hold them accountable for existing violations/grievances
